Throwback Thursday. August in Denver, Colorado 2008...

August 2008, Noboru and the boys and I decided to skip Hawaii that summer and head back to my home state! Denver, Colorado. 

Inside Denver International Airport. Or as we call it...DIA. Just the 3 letters.

I love this airport so much! I always know, I am home, whenever I see it. Makes me so happy!

After getting settled and stuff. We went to eat. The best thing about going back "home" versus a vacation spot... is the fact that I already know the best Mexican food restaurant...best Italian restaurant, etc etc. Best malls. You know what I mean, I hope. Noboru lived in Denver from age 15 to age 28 and 2 years in Hawaii after that until age 30. So, Denver is a place he feels so comfortable too. Noah and Bran each got a kids plate. A bean and cheese tostada and a side of rice and beans. Noboru a smothered burrito.

A happy Branden...

I had the huevos rancheros.

Just relaxing at one of the amusement parks, Denver has 2. Denver has 1 new expensive modern... wait all day in line... amusement park. And this old amusement park too... this is super cheap, all you can ride for like super cheap and there is no waiting in line and the people are just super chill here. We always go here. The boys having a cherry Icee because well...that's what Denver people do in summer.: ) 

There's my Icee next to my backpack. Having fun kiddos? : ) I went here all the time, when I was Noah's and Branden's age too. I love this place! : )

Is grandpa steering or is Branden steering? Hahaha! And see that ride in the background, absolutely zero wait in line. I love this place!

Stocking up and buying clothes on the cheap! : )

Homemade pasta and ravioli at an Italian place I have been going to since I was a kid. 

I know Japan thinks they are the country of onsen and hot springs! But many states in the USA also have the gift of natural hot springs too. Colorado is full of natural hot spring places! I grew up since I was a wee baby being taken to the hot springs. In Japan...sometimes Japanese people will ask me. Have you ever been to Hakone (famous for hot springs)? I smile and say yes. They will then say..."don't you love Japan for the hot springs?" Yes...I will politely answer...*however* did you know my state...Colorado is famous for hot springs too? In fact I grew up going to soak in hot springs my whole life. With snow all around the mountains while soaking in a hot spring. They are always super *duper* surprised hearing that. But yes it is true. : ) I do come from a fantastic state that has natural hot springs all over it. Granted us westerners... aren't too keen on soaking butt naked hahaha...but hot springs soaking, yes we do that too. : ) 

This hot spring is so hot. Your whole body feels so relaxed after wards. The lobby has a sign with all the minerals in this hot spring that are good for your body and skin. : )

Having gone here since I was a toddler. I know to get a hand stamp before leaving the hot springs. So we can re-enter the hot spring at night. : ) We stopped for some ice-cream and some lunch. Told ya...swimming sure makes a person hungry. : ) Dairy Queen...we sure do love you! : ) 

An early dinner after some sight seeing for the kids. And then back to soak. Pizza Hut and breadsticks are always nice.

Family...let's soak until we're all wrinkly and shriveled like raisins! Hahaha. At night in August the mountain air is cold and crisp and the contrast to the hot water...feels so nice. : )

At my auntie's house. She has fantastic peach trees, apple trees, 2 varieties of apple trees. 

My aunties back porch. See that fire pit in the table there. Perfect to roast marshmallows and just talk and enjoy your family.

Yes we need lots of seats because I have a big extended family. : ) 

And my family is very Roman Catholic. 

Our last night in Denver. We went and ate at my favorite restaurant one more time. 

It's so fun going to Denver. This will always be considered my home. My birth place. The placed I was born and raised. I love Colorado people. Colorado people are so nice. So cool. So friendly. I have a whole lot of family there who love me...love Branden...love Noah and Noboru too. : ) So yes...it is super hard leaving. Arriving in Denver is super easy. It's the leaving part that's hardest. If you have ever lived overseas....you will understand my words. And understand what I'm saying. I rarely get to Denver. Every 3-4 years maybe. So when I land in Denver and the pilot always says..."welcome to Denver." I cry. I cry because it is so good to hear that. So not hysterical psycho crying nonono. Just a few happy silent tears. While looking out the window. So no one else.. can see or know. When I fly out of Denver...I always cry for a minute or two too. Because it's pure heart break for me. I never know when is the next time...I can go back. Maybe 3-4 years. So sad tears. Very very sad tears. Again...not psycho loud hysterical crying. Just a few very sad silent tears during take off. And no...I don't want anyone to know or see. After an hour in flight...my funk goes away. And I am back to my peppy ol' self. But yes...leaving is so hard, isn't it. : )  Anyway...that was this week's TBT of 2008. I have been back to Denver since this. But that was in November 2013. Anyway happy TBT everyone. I will not be able to do my TBT for next week. Since I will be on vacation in the states. We leave this Saturday. Am I happy? Heck yes. I so need this trip you guys. The kids are packed, I packed them up 2 days ago and today I went and bought the kids some snacks for the airplane. I will pack myself up this evening after supper. Noboru is getting excited about our trip too. : )  

Throwback Thursday...

We moved to Japan when Bran was almost 1 year old from Hawaii. However, since age 1. Every so often. 2-3 times a year thanks to the flight benefits. I would bring Branden and myself to go and stay at my dad's house in Denver, Colorado, for about a good 4 weeks at a time. I had timed... this particular visit so that we would spend Branden's 3rd birthday in Denver and also be able to do some trick or treating in Denver too. And Noboru didn't mind. He knew, me getting adjusted living in Japan was sometimes difficult and since Bran wasn't in yochien yet, it was a great chance to go. Branden's first favorite character, who he loved so dearly was Thomas the Tank Engine. Anyway, what good luck that during our visit to Colorado, there were commercials and in the newspaper that said.... the actual Thomas real moving train, that carried passengers and everything happened to be in Golden Colorado at the train museum (there's like 5 or so of these in the world, so hopefully easy for kids to see one). As soon as we knew about it, we made a plan to take BrannyB there to see Thomas with his very own eyes! His little toddler mind was *most* definitely blown! Poof! : )  He kept saying..."grandpa look...Thomas!" Oh he was over the moon! The whole set up/design of the Thomas stuff was so cool! They had a whole bunch of different areas with train sets all moving. All the kids there... were super into it. We spent a good 2 and a half hours-3 hours walking from Thomas play area to train exhibit, they even had a woman reading a Thomas book aloud... and all the kids were totally in awe. She was a very good story teller. Even my dad and I were at full attention as she flipped each and every page and we're adults... all other adults enjoyed that too. hahaha. It was a fun and wonderful day. Before we left, we bought Branden a boxed DVD set of the Thomas movies. A Thomas shirt. The most amazing wooden Thomas whistle that he still keeps as a keepsake to this very day.... and a Thomas toothbrush. : ) Now days our Bran's a teenager... but yep, I remember back on that time fondly. The day we 3 met Thomas the Tank Engine. : )  

Noah's throwback shows... what a true card this kid is! : ) When he was younger and if he wasn't feeling into taking a picture at the time, when my camera came out of my bag/purse. Keep in mind I constantly took pictures of my kids because I adore them so...but yes sometimes it wore on even the most patient baby we knew...this kid right here. : ) He would close his eyes right away. Maybe in his little kid reasoning, he thought you believed he fell asleep? And therefore could not take his picture, anymore? Hahaha. But yep, he would do this often, when he saw my camera being taken out for the 100th time of the day. He'd immediately close his eyes and try to fake you out... that he was zonked out. So this was his..."I'm sleeping mama, so you shouldn't take my picture" face. @_@ Hahaha. Oh and btw...Noah where are your eyebrows kid?! He had the blondest eyebrows as a baby and toddler. Like...nonexistent invisible eyebrows. Like...we should buy him some eyebrow mascara and color them in. : ) Hahaha. : ) 

I said, "bye bye camera" and guess what he did...Noah miraculously opened his eyeballs! And I quickly snapped this picture. : ) And I do apologize for fibbing to you Noah! However the bright side is...he did open his eyes, right? Hahaha.

And then he got distracted by miscellaneous people walking by. : ) Awww, what 2 fantastic memories remembered thanks to today's TBT. The day when Branden met Thomas the Tank Engine in the flesh, so to speak! And when Noah was at the age where he'd "fake" sleep when I'd pull my camera out! Hahaha. What good times. : ) Good memories. : ) 

Colorado trip, part 3

Our last morning in Colorado and we opened our curtains to find 2 deer on the other side of the Colorado River grazing. One is in this picture. Look real close and he's near the bushes, you can see his or her white furry butt area, that will help you spot it. We 4 all looked out our window, the 2 deer grazed and then 1 trotted off and the 1 just lingered. It only last a couple minutes, but we sat there quietly watching. A very cool way to wake up, finding a deer across the river. : ) Anyway we all got dressed, the boys washed their faces with a nice hot steamy wash cloth and brushed their teeth and got dressed. I also washed my face with a steamy hot wash cloth, got dressed, brushed my teeth, put my makeup on and did my hair and we 4 went downstairs to get something to eat. The free breakfast here was great. 

A variety of flavors of coffee. The coffee said fancy gourmet if you read that, and I must say the coffee was delicious. On the right of that, was a make your own pancake machine. Having made many of the make your own waffles, on the waffle machine at the other hotels, by now we were old hats, at making all these types of things. 

Pancakes in 45 seconds, yes I tried it and I'd have to agree. : ) 

Cold milk and yogurt, cereals a plenty, cinnamon rolls etc. 

Delicious cinnamon rolls.

Cinnamon granola and so many types of delicious cereals. And sad to say, we were the only ones eating the free breakfast. Poor little hotel tucked away in the middle of nowhere. : ) But they sure did make us feel special and made such a wonderful breakfast. 

Fresh hot biscuits. These were so good.

More omelets then we could ever eat. I had 1. : )

Homemade sausage gravy, goes perfect with the biscuits, what a delicious American country breakfast. Biscuits and gravy.

Jams, honey, cream cheese, anything you could want to top your bagel or toast and they also had fresh fruit on the top tier, apples and bananas.

Irish cream, french vanilla, again this hotel tried so hard and really goes all out. 

Hot chocolate, instant hot oatmeal. 

If you preferred tea, they had you covered. :  ) I prefer coffee, but wow, what an awesome hotel. 

My breakfast. I did smother, the omelet and biscuit in gravy after I ate my pancake first though. : )

Noboru's meal.

Noah had a sausage and a cinnamon roll. The lady would peek her head out and restock, I think she was glad somebody came to enjoy the wonderful food she made. : ) And I did thank her and tell her how amazing it all was, before we left. : ) Noah had a milk, he drinks so much chocolate milk and regular milk. Noah also munched that apple before going back for a bowl of cereal.

Branden loves bagels, he had one every day no matter which hotel we were at, he also had an apple juice then a hot chocolate, oh and a yogurt right before we left. : )

Totally dead empty. : ( Just us. : ) 

A really beautiful set up and nicely maintained. That's the door, the lady would peek her head out to restock items. : ) 

I took out the ham, before adding some gravy. 

Noboru had a yogurt, actually we all had a yogurt. Our family is really big yogurt fans anyways, but Noboru told me while eating his, "this is the best tasting yogurt I've ever eaten" we all went @.@. It was very good yogurt.  Really good. 

My yogurt right before we left, the kids all had 1 too. We all topped it off, with a bit of cinnamon granola. 

Well, luckily it wasn't freezing anymore. : )  We checked out of the hotel and got on the road. 

Trains carrying coal!

Yep, coal and an American flag. : )

Awww. : (

I will miss you! : )

Hi Utah. : ) 

We were listening to music and looking at the slightly changing landscapes. 

Noah said, "look mama Optimus Prime is right behind us!" I said, "He sure is kiddo!" : )  And then as we were getting off the highway to go to Arby's according to the navigation, anyway we saw Lightning McQueen too. This was a crack up! We were literally laughing our butts off, over this! 

He's just an old car, but they actually did a really good job at painting him and making him look pretty much like the real thing. He was a fake of course, and not even the real make and model of the real car, but he sure gave us all a laugh and a smile. Whoever did this, sure has a great sense of humor! : ) 

We had been driving for many hours and by now it was lunch time. Noboru had been hoping to eat Arby's, so we had to make that happen, you know. : ) There's Noah's chocolate milk, I tell ya, this kid truly lives for milk. : )  Noah had a kids combo and the rest of us had adult combos. Wait a minute, I did not have a combo, I had a sandwich and mozzarella sticks. But I shared the cheese sticks with everyone though. : ) 

Noah had a turkey kids sandwich and loved it. Branden had a turkey and cheddar warm/hot sandwich and he loved it. And I had a cold, roast turkey and swiss cheese sandwich and 1 cheese stick. : )

This sandwich was so good. I didn't realize Arby's makes such delicious turkey sandwiches. Real turkey not processed mystery turkey meat either. : ) Right on Arby's. : ) It took us about 6 full hours of being on the road, though we did stop for lunch at Arby's. When we finally arrived in Salt Lake City, Utah we were tired and just glad we were staying the night at a La Quinta. We checked into the hotel, we lugged all our bags into our room. Our hotel was right near the airport. It was quite a busy hotel. We went to our room dropped off our bags and went for a restroom break, everyone got freshened up. And by now it was dinner time. We went to Taco Bell for supper. I had 2 bean and cheese burritos. Noah had 3 tacos, Branden had 3 tacos and a small nacho bell grande item. Had lots of toppings, but a small size one. Noboru filled up too. And we drove back to the room. Showered, everyone took turns. I didn't turn the TV on at all. We zonked out. We had to be awake super early too. We dropped off the car at the airport car return and caught a flight to Seattle Washington. 

We were to be stuck at the Seattle airport for the whole day, since our flight wasn't until 6pm, is when our flight heading to Haneda would be taking off. We arrived at Seattle around noon. However, I must say, if you are to be "stuck" at any airport, this would be the best one to be at, it is amazing!!!!! Sea-tac is beautiful and gorgeous and the choice of foods to eat are amazing. The building itself was so pretty. We did have breakfast at La Quinta in Salt Lake City, Utah, but by now it was lunch and we were really ready for lunch. We had Sbarro pizza and pasta for lunch. First time I have ever seen a Sbarro at an airport before. Talk about being pleasantly surprised. 

Again we knew we were in no rush, so we slowly ate, we chatted and refilled our drinks a few times. Noboru walked the boys to the bathroom twice. I walked myself to the bathroom once. Again just trying to kill time. 

Didn't buy anything in here, but we did look around in this, Made in Washington Store. Denver also has a store like this, and just about every other city, we've ever flown in, has one like this too, but again it is really nice to see what's in there and what makes each city special. And not to sound too cornball or anything, but each city is special and I do enjoy looking at stores like this. : ) 

I carried my own carry-on and Macy's bag, but Branden held it for just a second for me, while I was taking a picture of the very cool Washington gift shop. : ) 

This food court area is where we sat for the longest time. I loved the floor to ceiling windows. The food and restaurant choices here are absolutely amazing. Noboru was impressed, so was I. They have, Qdoba Mexican grill, which is of course very popular and had many customers, A Japanese restaurant, a very nice Italian place, Wendy's, the boys were like, omg, they have Wendy's!! : ) . A handful of Fish and chip places. A big and beautiful Starbucks. Since Starbucks comes from Seattle. : )  They also had The Body Shop, right near this food court, and I walked around in the Body Shop for about 20 minutes, while the guys stood in the seats near the food court, just chillin' and relaxing. I didn't buy anything, but I did kill some time, which was nice.  I did buy some trail mix from a newsstand though for the flight. : )  When it was about 3pm, we went and headed near our gate area. Oh, I almost forgot, I did research the Seattle airport the day before while we were driving to Utah. And 1 person blogged, an American guy, who lives there but travels often back and forth through Sea-tac often, anyway he gave sage advice, saying the other areas/concourses of the airport don't have as huge a selection of food choices, so he always buys from the main food court area and takes it to the quieter parts where there is less food choices, when he flies out of those other areas/concourses in the airport (he also said the sushi was better in the bigger food court area then the smaller concourses, again I don't eat fish or sushi but I'll take his word for it : ). So, we bought the boys a chicken sandwich from Wendy's each for the flight before switching to the smaller concourse/area where the flight bound for Haneda would be. 

There was a Seattle's Best coffee and 2 small takeouts, but the boys had their sandwiches for the plane already thanks to the gentleman who wrote that information and blogged about it, so we were set. I also bought cookie cups for the boys at Walmart for the flight too. Hi Noah! : )

By now we had about only 1 full hour to go, before the flight left, so we just relaxed with a nice cup of coffee. If you are reading this and you live in Seattle or are originally from Seattle, your airport rocks!

Boy were we glad to finally be able to board the plane. What a very long day. They passed out drinks and a snack to us, while the rest of the plane boarded.

11 hours and 49 minutes, basically it's a 12 hour flight. 

Everyone is given a menu in first class. You order both your meals, at the start of the flight. Except for the dessert you order, when she/he wheels the dessert cart around. 

Choice was vanilla french toast, granola cereal or roasted pork, this is the meal for right before we land. I just had granola cereal the day before, so I picked the vanilla french toast, she wrote my choices down on her list of who is sitting in what seat and ordered which meal. 

Choice was, chianti braised beef or fish or pastina (the boys both had the pastina) or the ginger pork tenderloin, I picked the ginger pork tenderloin. This was for the meal we would get right as soon as we took off and the plane was level.

You can also pick a Japanese meal, Noboru picked the Japanese meal. 

Starter course, soup and salad and bread. The pretzel dinner roll and some delicious tomato soup. The salad was really fantastic too. : )

I love ginger pork, so, I was pretty happy to get this. 

On a bed of noodles.

We all had ice cream sundaes for dessert.

It was nice to catch up on so many movies during both flights. I watched the Conjuring (freaking scary!), The Heat (felt there were absolutely way too much cursing and profanity in this) which is a shame because it was a decent movie, but it just didn't need all the constant bad words in it, that really turned me off. You know, a handful of curse words during a movie is acceptable, I guess, but the first 45 minutes of this movie was just like constant fowl language (and I really like both actresses in this movie, so I was disappointed a bit). Admission with Tina Fey, The Purge, saw a handful of other movies also. Noboru watched a ton of movies. Both Branden and Noah also saw a ton of good movies they liked too. Wizard of Oz, Jack and the Giant Slayer, the new Superman, which we already saw, lol but they both watched it again, there was also a couple Batman movies. Nick TV and stuff also on there. 

Branden eating his sundae.

They feed you right away as soon as the plane gets level. But then there's like a huge chunk of time there's no food, they do have snacks they swing around once in a while, and I personally don't get hungry mid flight, but Branden and Noah usually do and I know this, which sis why I made sure they had snacks and the sandwich, it was nice to see them eating their sandwiches during their movie watching. : )  we all did seem to sleep a few hours, then they turned the lights on and it was breakfast and we were about an hour away from landing in Japan. 

What a long flight, but it's indeed nice to be able to stretch your legs and lay flat during the flight. We all felt well rested. We ate and then we brushed our teeth and we landed. Each seat gets a little toiletry kit with mini Crest with Scope (flavor) toothpaste,  also a really nice lip balm, hand cream, etc. Also important to add, we were not jet lagged so much, going to Denver, maybe 1 -2 days tops. But we were over it quickly. However, coming back to Japan from Denver, we were badly jet lagged. Could be worst jet lag our family has ever had. Whole house was going to sleep at 6pm every night, for a full week. waking up at like 4am. We are all fine now, of course and have been for a while, but yeah, not sure what it was, but we were greatly jet lagged coming back to Japan this time. : )